Police officer axed for apparent drunk driving

The deputy superintendent of Kien Sa district police was abruptly transferred to an inactive post at the operations of Surat Thani provincial police after he was seen in a video clip apparently drunk and reprimanding officers manning a checkpoint to detect drunk driving.

The officer, Pol Lt-Col Ruangsak Ngamkham, was also ordered to report to Pol Maj-Gen Apichart Boonsriroj, the Surat Thani provincial police commander, on Monday. A fact-finding probe into the incident was also ordered by Pol Maj-Gen Apichart.

Although Pol Lt-Col Ruangsak was a classmate of Pol Maj-Gen Apichart, the latter announced that the case would be treated as normal without any special privilege.

He praised the officers manning the checkpoint, particulary Pol Cpt Arkhom Srinawat, the deputy inspector of Muang district officer, for strictly performing their duty and for being polite during their encounter with Pol Lt-Col Ruangsak.

It was reported that the officers manning the checkpoint were unaware that Ruangsak was a ranking police officer.

Pol Maj-Gen Apichart said that the checkpoint to check suspected drunk driving was in line with the police policy to ensure road safety.